Storage container with vacuum

ABSTRACT

A device comprises an upper section with a unidirectional flow valve and a lower section with a surface for adhering to a container with its own unidirectional flow valve and a passageway to circumscribe the container&#39;s unidirectional flow valve. A middle section of the device has a plurality of walls of which some may be at substantially acute angles that couple the upper section to the lower section to form a cavity between the unidirectional flow valve and the passageway.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/547,091 filed Nov. 18, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/954,062, filed Nov. 24, 2010, the entirecontents of which are being incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed are embodiments of the invention which relate to, among otherthings, vacuum air-removal from storage containers.

BACKGROUND

Convenient removal of air from storage containers, such as, for example,plastic food storage bags, helps prevent spoliation of the contentsremaining therein for long periods of time.

Reliance on equipment that must be separated from storage containersafter attempting to vacuum seal the same is cumbersome and costly toconsumers and manufacturers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Vacuum sealing of a storage container may take place via a devicecomprising a first unidirectional flow valve coupled to a substantiallyair-tight container, a second unidirectional flow valve and anelastically resilient wall completely circumscribing flow from the firstunidirectional flow valve to the second unidirectional flow valve.Intermittent application of pressure to the wall removes air from thestorage container.

A device may have an upper section having a unidirectional flow valvedisposed therein and a lower section having at least one surfaceconfigured for adhering to a container comprising a containerunidirectional flow valve, the lower section also having a passagewaythrough its thickness shaped to circumscribe the containerunidirectional flow valve; and a middle section comprised of a pluralityof walls, of which two of the plurality are joined at a substantiallyacute angle, the middle section coupling the upper section to the lowersection to form a cavity between the unidirectional flow valve and thepassageway.

Vacuum sealing of a food storage container may be effected via a devicecomprising a first unidirectional flow valve coupled to a food storagecontainer, a second unidirectional flow valve and an elasticallyresilient chamber coupling the first unidirectional flow valve to thesecond unidirectional flow valve, wherein intermittent application ofpressure to the chamber removes air from the food storage bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a storage container with a vacuum according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates one profile view of a storage container with a vacuumaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates operation of a storage container with a vacuumaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another profile view of a storage container with avacuum and operation of the same according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another profile view of a storage container witha vacuum and operation of the same according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates another storage container with a vacuum according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate vacuum air-removal mechanisms according toother exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates another vacuum air-removal mechanism according toother exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, and 14B illustrate a plurality of views ofanother vacuum air-removal mechanism according to other exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a profile view of a vacuum air-removalmechanism according to other exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary operation of a vacuum air-removalmechanism according to other exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14A illustrates a further view of a vacuum air-removal mechanismaccording to other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding andinterchangeable parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a vacuum storage container 100 which may comprise acontainer 7 with sides 10 and 20. In one embodiment, the container 7 ofthe vacuum storage container 100 may be a plastic storage bag, such as,for example, a Ziploc® storage bag. Alternatively, such a container maybe made of aluminum foil, cling wrap, plastic, fabric, Mylar® or paper.A container 7 may have at least edges 5 and 6 which, when in contactwith one another, permit substantially no air loss from within thevolume encompassed between sides 10 and 20. Where the container 7 ofvacuum storage container 100 is a Ziploc® bag, the zipping portions ofthe bag (e.g., portions 5 and 6 of an exemplary container 7) may sealair between the walls formed by the opposing pieces of plastic making upthe bag (e.g., sides 10 and 20 of an exemplary container 7). Container 7may be fabricated according to any means known to those skilled in theart.

According to one embodiment of FIG. 1, vacuum chamber 30 is integratedwith the outer wall 10 of container 7. Vacuum chamber 30 may have anouter surface 33 that intersects the surface 10 of container 7 atsection 36. Section 36 may be the site of any type of substantiallyair-tight seal between a surface of container 7 and material comprisingvacuum chamber 30 that may be effected by means known to those skilledin the art, such as, for example, heat molding, application ofadhesive(s), chemical bonding, welding, etc. Vacuum chamber 30 may havea thickness defined by the material between inner surface 34 and outersurface 33. Vacuum chamber 30 may be made out of any resilient materialpossessing elasticity to substantially return to a previous expandedvolume upon application and release of pressure on its surface 33, e.g.,shape memory plastic, rubber.

Referring again to FIG. 1, air located between sealed walls 10 and 20 ofcontainer 7 communicates with the space under surface 33 of vacuumchamber 30 via a one-way gas flow valve 40 integrated into the wall 10of container 7. Air under surface 33 of vacuum chamber 30 communicateswith the ambient via another one-way gas flow valve 50. Flow valves ofthis type and function are known to those skilled in the art, forexample, those of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,963, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety. Although the illustrated embodiments show a particular numberof flow valves 40/50, the present invention may make use of any numberof gas flow valves 40 and 50 depending on the needs and uses of thevacuum storage container 100.

In an exemplary flow valve arrangement according to FIG. 1, a gas inlet11 of flow valve 40 may only be in contact with air within sealedcontainer 7 (e.g., inside of wall 10). A valve integration region 15 isthe area around which container 7 holds flow valve 40. Gas exit 12 offlow valve 40 may only be in contact with the space under surface 33 ofvacuum chamber 30. The air in vacuum chamber 30 may only be in contactwith inlet 31 of flow valve 50. Valve integration region 35 may be thearea around which vacuum chamber 30 holds flow valve 50. Finally, valveexit 32 may only be in contact with the ambient air outside of sealedcontainer 7. Those skilled in the art would recognize that the size,shape, orientation and locations of the portions of flow valves 40 and50 may be modified to accommodate any particular container or vacuumchamber according to the desired need. For example, in storing liquids,it may be preferable to place flow valve 40 near the opening ofcontainer 7 so as to avoid contact with the liquid gas when removing airfrom the container 7. Alternatively, the gas inlets and outlets of theflow valves may be flush with the walls of the material in which theyare integrated.

FIG. 2 illustrates a profile view of the vacuum storage container 100according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Wall10 of container 7 is shown with flow valve 40 extending through itssurface. Surface 11 is flush with the inside of wall 10 while a regionof the flow valve 40, integration region 15, is integrated with wall 10so as not to permit substantial losses of air other than through flowvalve 40. Integration region 15 may be molded within the thickness ofwall 10 by any means known to those skilled in the art. Exit 12 of flowvalve 40 opens into space surrounded by surface 34 of vacuum chamber 30.Air-flow through valve 40 may remain within inner surface 34 of vacuumchamber 30 until pressure is applied to outer surface 33 of vacuumchamber 30. Such pressure would move air under surface 34 through atleast one flow valve 50. Prior to application of pressure on surface 33,air within vacuum chamber 30 may remain substantially near inlet 31 offlow valve 50. Once pressure is applied to surface 33 of vacuum chamber30, air-flows through the inlet 31 and out of vacuum chamber 30 at flowvalve exit 32 of flow valve 50 Like flow valve 40, flow valve 50 may beintegrated within the thickness between inner surface 34 and outersurface 33 of vacuum chamber 30 by any means known to those skilled inthe art.

FIG. 3 illustrates one exemplary form of operation of the presentinvention. According to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 3, pressure(P_(B)) applied to container 7 on wall 10 and/or 20 may cause air 1 toenter flow valve 40 and exit into vacuum chamber 30. Air 1 will remainin vacuum chamber 30 until sufficient pressure (P_(s)) is generatedeither externally on surface 33 or internally by surface 34. When anexternal pressure Ps is applied, air 1 will be forced into an exitstream 2 through flow valve 50 and into ambient 3. When vacuum chamber30 reaches maximum capacity under surface 34, the resiliency of vacuumchamber 30's material may put pressure P_(s) on any existing air 1 toforce any additional air 2 through flow valve 50 and into the ambient 3.According to this embodiment, vacuum storage container 100 functionswith pressures applied to both the container walls 10 and/or 20 and thevacuum chamber 30. A combination of these applied pressures may furtherseal container 7 to achieve optimal air-tight sealing of the contentstherein, e.g., creation of a vacuum within container 7 further causessealing of walls 10 and/or 20 and/or edges 5/6.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention according toFIG. 4, application of external pressure P_(s) on surface 33 of vacuumchamber 30 moves whatever pre-existing air 1 volume within vacuumchamber 30 out of flow valve 50 and into the ambient 3. As the resilientmaterial of vacuum chamber 30 allows surface 33 to revert to itsoriginal shape and allow vacuum chamber 30 to substantially regain itsprior volume (e.g., space under surface 34 before application ofexternal pressure P_(s)), air 1 from within the sealed walls 10 and 20of container 7 is drawn through flow valve 40 and into vacuum chamber30. By repeating the same application and removal of external pressureto surface 33 of vacuum chamber 30, vacuum chamber 30 will remove air 1from within container 7 and place it into the ambient 3. According tothis embodiment, vacuum chamber 30 is integrated with any region of flowvalve 40 apart from wall 10 of container 7 (e.g., surface of flow valve40 from integration region 15 to valve exit 12) such that section 36 anda portion of flow valve 40 are coupled so that substantially no air maybe lost during intermittent pressure application to vacuum chamber 30.Repetition of application and removal of pressure to vacuum chamber 30may also serve to tighten the seal in container 7 thereby increasing thesubstantial air-tight seal previously used to substantially enclose air1 within the walls and/or edges of container 7.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 4may be fabricated by molding or sealing the vacuum chamber 30 materialabout a flow valve 50 and the external portions of flow valve 40 (e.g.,surface of flow valve 40 from integration region 15 to valve exit 12).The remaining surface of flow valve 40 not connected to vacuum chamber30 may be similarly integrated with a container 7 using known processesin the art. Those skilled in the art may recognize other forms ofsubstantial air-tight coupling which may be used in any of theaforementioned fabrication processes, such as, but not limited to,molding, adhering, welding, or chemical bonding.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the vacuum chamber30 is disposed inside sealed container 7. As similarly described withrespect to the operation of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG.4, compression on surface 33, by virtue of pressure Ps, being placed ona wall of container 7, causes vacuum chamber 30 to expel air 1 locatedtherein by moving air 1 in a stream of air 2 through flow valve 50 outof container 7 and into ambient 3. As inner surface 34 of vacuum chamber30 substantially regains its prior size and volume, air 1 from withincontainer 7 is brought through flow valve 40 and inside vacuum chamber30 where it cannot exit back into container 7. According to thisembodiment, vacuum chamber 30's internal positioning reduces the overallsize of vacuum storage container 100. Similar to the exemplaryembodiments illustrated with respect to FIG. 4, repeated application andremoval of pressure to vacuum chamber 30 may also tighten the air sealof the walls and/or edges of container 7.

Referring to FIG. 6, vacuum chamber 30 may be integrated with container7 in a way which does not substantially add to container 7′s shape andsize. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where vacuumchamber 30 makes up a corner of container 7 but otherwise does notimpede the sealing of container 7′s walls 10 and 20 at edges 5 and 6. Aspreviously described, vacuum chamber 30 is integrated with container 7at section 36 (e.g., by molding, chemical bonding, adhesives). Insimilar fashion to FIGS. 1-3, valves 40 and 50 are integrated (e.g., atintegration region 15 and 35 respectfully) to allow for air to betransferred from within container 7 into vacuum chamber 30 (from valve40 surface 11 through valve 40 exit 12) and from vacuum chamber 30 tothe ambient (from valve 50 surface 31 through valve 50 exit 32). Asshown in FIG. 6, surface 33 of vacuum chamber 30 may be shaped to appearas the corner of container 7. It is also envisioned that surface 33 maybe shaped in any fashion to comply with container 7's pre-vacuum chamberappearance. In this way the benefits and advantages of vacuum chamber 30may be enjoyed without loss of the normal operation of container 7.Fabrication of vacuum chambers 30 of the type depicted in FIG. 6 may beachieved in like fashion to those methods described previously withreference to the other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a vacuum mechanism 200 for use on storagecontainers. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, avacuum mechanism 200 may comprise a clamp 60 whose interlocking edges 65and 66 create substantially air-tight conditions within an interiorcavity of claim 60. At least one air-flow space 67 may be provided toallow air from within a clamped container 7 to exit into the otherwisesubstantially air-tight cavity of clamp 60. Interlocking edges 65 and 66may be molded in a complementary manner to substantially reduce the riskof air loss around air-flow space 67 when clamp 60 is clamped oncontainer 7. Flow valves 40 may be disposed on either jaw of clamp 60 soas to allow any available air-flowing from a container 7 to flow therethrough. Integrated on either clamp jaw may be at least one vacuumchamber 30 whose wall contains a flow valve 50 permitting air withinvacuum chamber 30 to only exit out of the substantially air-tight cavityformed by sealed clamp 60. Operating a vacuum chamber 30 according tothe exemplary methods of operation of the illustrative embodimentsdescribed with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4 above, vacuum mechanism 200 maybe used to remove air from a container 7 on which it is clamped.

FIG. 9 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a vacuum mechanism200 for use on storage containers according to the present invention. Asdepicted, a clamp 60 may lock container 7 within its edges 65 and 66such that the interior space of clamp 60 is substantially air-tight. Theinterlocking clamp 60 edges, 65 and 66, may provide an air-flow space 67which edges 5/6 of container 7 are able to remain open to allow gascommunication between container 7 and the interior of clamp 60.Unidirectional flow valve 40 may permit air trapped within clamp60/container 7 to flow into vacuum chamber 30 according to the exemplaryoperating methods described above with respect to the illustrativeembodiments of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. Insimilar fashion to previously described embodiments, application ofpressure P_(s) to the outer surface of vacuum chamber 30 may pushpre-existing air 1 located in vacuum chamber 30 through unidirectionalvalve 50. The stream of air 2 may only be able to exit through valve 50into the ambient 3. As vacuum chamber 30 regains its pre-existingvolume, air 1 from within container 7 and/or clamp 60 fills the nowvacant space within the volume of vacuum chamber 30 (e.g., by way ofvacuum effect). Continued repetition of application of pressure tovacuum chamber 30 thereby removes the remaining air 1 located withincontainer 7.

An exemplary clamp 60 according the embodiments of vacuum mechanism 200depicted in FIGS. 7-9 may be fabricated from any suitable material withthe ability to maintain substantially air-tight seals. Those skilled inthe art would recognize numerous materials and constructs capable offulfilling the objectives of clamp 60 according to the exemplaryembodiments of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 7-9.

In another exemplary embodiment, and as previously disclosed, vacuumchamber 30 may be illustrated in FIGS. 10A-B, 11A-B, 12A-B, 13 and14A-B. An exemplary vacuum chamber 30 may be a single blow-moldedconstruct having a fold which may be operated upon to flex in anaccordion-like manner to compress the volume under the chamber toexhaust gas found therein. An exemplary material for such an exemplaryvacuum chamber 30 may be an elastically resilient material, such as anelastomer, preferably low density polyethylene, silicone, or rubber. Theuse of at least one elastically resilient fold may also expand thechamber volume to intake gas from a storage container 7 equipped with agas valve, e.g. a one-way valve 40. While a unitary blow moldedconstruct may be a preferred construction, a multicomponent constructmay be utilized by persons skilled in the art to achieve an exemplaryvacuum chamber 30, e.g., overlapping layers/folds of material bonded orotherwise mechanically or chemically attached to adjacent layers/folds.

According to the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 10A and 10B, anexemplary vacuum chamber 30 may comprise a storage container contact orjunction portion 36, a one-way exhaust valve 50, and a plurality ofsurface sections 33 a-33 c. While valve 50 may take the form of anysuitable one-way valve, as previously disclosed, valve 50 may besubstantially flat or small in construction. In a preferred embodiment,valve 50 may be a substantially rectangular plastic laminate stickermade by Plitek, LLC of Des Plaines, Ill. Accordingly, valve 50 may becoupled to vacuum chamber 30 at seat region 35. To assist in thecompression and expansion of chamber 30 according to these embodiments,pads 55 may be disposed on one or more of the surface sections 33 a-c,preferably on upper section 33 a.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, an exemplary vacuum chamber 30 maybe substantially rectangular in shape, although other shapes may bepossible, such as elliptical, circular, square, pyramidal, or other suchpolyhedrons. In one embodiment, vacuum chamber 30 may have a discus-likeshape. Alternatively, a vacuum chamber 30 may be hexagonal incross-section. For an exemplary vacuum chamber 30 according to theillustrative embodiments of FIGS. 10A and 10B, such a chamber 30 may bemade up of at least an upper surface section 33 a on which the one wayvalve 50 is disposed, a middle surface section 33 b, and a lower surfacesection 33 c. In an exemplary embodiment, middle surface section 33 band lower surface section 33 c contain flexible zones, e.g., lengthsthat are elastically resilient, that react to pressure forces on uppersurface section 33 a. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, surface section33 a may be stiffer than middle surface section 33 b and lower surfacesection 33 c. Alternatively, all surface sections 33 a-c may have thesame flexibility to allow vacuum chamber 30 to function. A junctionsurface 36 provides a coupling between chamber 30 and the storagecontainer surface 7 (not shown in FIGS. 10A-10B). As previouslydisclosed, junction surface 36 may be an adhesive or an integral portionof the storage container surface 7. While junction surface 36 maycontain adhesive on it to allow for reversible coupling to storagecontainer surface 7, junction surface 36 may couple to storage containersurface 7 without adhesives or it may use any other chemical ormechanical fastening means. Furthermore, junction surface 36 may becoupled to the storage container by any means, known to those skilled inthe art, such as suction couplings or Velcro, or as otherwise describedherein.

As further shown in FIG. 10B, upper surface section 33 a may containnumerous curved surfaces and recesses. A preferred recess in section 33a may be seat region 35 to which a suitable one-way valve 50 may becoupled. Further provided in section 33 a is an outlet 31 connecting theinterior volume of vacuum chamber 30 to one-way valve 50.

With reference to FIG. 11A, an exemplary vacuum chamber 30 may be viewedso that junction surface 36 is facing the viewer and the lower surfacesection 33 c and middle surface section 33 b are visible. Throughpassageway 37, vacuum chamber 30 allows access of gas from the one-wayvalve 40 (not shown) on storage container 7 (not shown). Passageway 37may be shaped and sized to allow limited or variable placement about anexemplary one-way valve 40 of an exemplary storage container 7.Passageway 37 may be configured so as to place the one-way valve 40 ofthe storage container 7 directly underneath the hole 31 providing gaspassage to one-way valve 50 of vacuum chamber 30. FIG. 11B shows anotherview of the lower surface section 33 c, juncture surface 36, and middlesurface section 33 b. Further illustrations of such an exemplary vacuumchamber may be seen in FIG. 14B.

In an exemplary cross-section of an exemplary vacuum chamber 30, FIGS.12A and 12B may be illustrative embodiments of the internal structuresof said vacuum chamber 30. With reference to FIG. 12A, vacuum chamber 30comprises an upper surface section 33 a that has a seat 35 and pocket 38to which a one-way valve 50 couples. As situated, one-way valve 50extracts gas from the volume within vacuum chamber 30 through hole 31.Also atop upper surface section 33 a may be a plurality of pads 55.Further illustrations of such an exemplary vacuum chamber may be seen inFIGS. 14A-B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B and further illustrated in FIGS. 14Aand 14B, upper surface section 33 a may be bounded by upper insidesection 34 a and between each may be an upper section wall “U”. Themiddle surface section 33 b may be bounded by middle inside section 34 band between each may be found a middle section wall “M”. Lower surfacesection 33 c may be bounded by lower inside section 34 c and betweeneach may be found a lower section wall “L”. In an exemplary embodiment,upper section wall “U” is thicker than the middle section wall “M”because middle section wall may need to be more flexible and/or havemore springiness during compression and to increase shape reformationduring expansion. In another embodiment, middle section wall M has ahigher elastic resilience than other exemplary sections of an exemplaryvacuum chamber 30. In another embodiment, the size, cross-section, andmaterial of the upper section, the middle section, and the lower sectionwalls may be the same, substantially the same, or different from oneanother depending on applications. In a preferred embodiment, thefollowing design parameters may be utilized for an exemplary vacuumchamber 30:

U≧L; and

U>M

In an even more preferred embodiment, the following design parametersmay be utilized for an exemplary vacuum chamber 30:

U≧L; and

U>M

L>M

In an exemplary embodiment, lower surface section 33 c may be bounded byadditional surface structures, such as well surface 34 d and stepsurface 34 e before terminating at passageway 37. In an exemplaryembodiment, junction surface 36 may be the bounding surface for lowersurface section 33 c. Alternatively, junction surface 36 may be thebounding surface for well surface 34 d. In a further alternativeembodiment, junction surface 36 may be the bounding surface for stepsurface 34 e, as may be illustrated in FIG. 12B. An exemplary stepsurface 34 e and 33 d may be configured to permit an exemplary vacuumchamber 30 to receive any exemplary one-way valve 40 of any exemplarystorage container 7.

In the illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 12A and 12B, junction surface36 may be shaped so as to have unequal surface areas on either side ofpassageway 37. For example, junction surface 36 may be largest in thearea of vacuum chamber 30 which holds the compression pads 55.Alternatively, junction surface 36 may be shaped so as to fit about anexemplary one-way valve 40 on a particular storage container 7. Thus,for storage containers 7 with one-way valves 40 at their corners,junction surface 36 may be configured to allow the necessary contactbetween vacuum chamber 30 and storage container 7 to allow the gas frombelow one-way valve 40 to be extracted from the one-way valve viaexemplary compression and expansion steps of an exemplary vacuum chamber30. According to this exemplary embodiment, a thinner junction surface36 may be for the edges of the corner of storage container 7 while alarger junction surface 36 may be for the portions of storage container7 distal of the corner and adjacent to the one-way valve 40 to becircumscribed in the passageway 37. Further illustrations of such anexemplary vacuum chamber may be seen in FIGS. 14A-B.

In the illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 12A-B and as furtherillustrated in FIGS. 14A-B, an exemplary middle surface section 33 b maybe a construction having an acute angle relative to one of the uppersurface section 33 a or lower surface section 33 c. While middle surfacesection 33 b may be shown as a substantially smooth wall, it may becontemplated that middle surface section 33 b may have additionalcontours and surface features. As further shown by the illustrativeembodiments of FIGS. 12A-B, an exemplary lower surface section 33 c maybe a construction having an obtuse angle relative to the junctionsurface 36. In a preferred embodiment, a combination of acute middlesurface section 33 b and obtuse lower surface section 33 c may permitfor flexible displacement of the upper surface section 33 a of vacuumchamber 30 so as to allow vacuum chamber 30 to operate to remove gasfrom within an exemplary container 7 with one-way valve 40 when vacuumchamber 30 is placed about such a one-way valve.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 12A-B, an illustrative pocket 38 maypreferably be a recessed space or well on the top of the vacuum chamber30 to house an exemplary valve 50. In a further preferred embodiment,two of the sides of the pocket 38 may have curved and/or arched edges 35to allow flow out of the valve 50. Accordingly, pocket 38 with curvedand/or arched edges 35 may direct flow in two directions and through achannel created by valve 50, for example, a laminate valve 50. Furtherillustrations of such an exemplary vacuum chamber may be seen in FIGS.14A-B.

In accordance with the exemplary aspects of the present inventionillustrated by FIG. 13, an exemplary chamber 30 may be operateddiagrammatically as shown. In an exemplary vacuum chamber 30, anexemplary inside surface 34 a, 34 b, and/or 34 c may enclose a volumebetween about 10 cubic centimeters and about 15 cubic centimeters.According to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 13, an exemplary vacuumchamber 30 may be adhered to container 7 at junction surfaces 36 byadhesives or mechanical/chemical coupling mechanisms known to thoseskilled in the art and previously described. Additionally, junctionsurfaces 36 of vacuum chamber 30 may be placed upon container 7 so thatany vacuum created as a result of vacuum chamber 30 operation issubstantially maintained. As illustrated, a volume of gas “1” may beevacuated from one-way valve 40 of container 7 by application of a forcePs on the upper surface section 33 a of vacuum chamber 30. This may beachieved by having a force Ps applied to the vacuum chamber 30 tocompress its internal volume, followed by release of force Ps so thatvacuum chamber 30 may regain its original volume. Accordingly, therelease of force Ps may allow vacuum chamber 30 to create a vacuum aboveone-way valve 40 of container 7 and by doing so draw in a volume of gas1 from within container 7.

According to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 13, a vacuum seal mayexist between junction surfaces 36 and container 7. Further, the surfacegeometry of vacuum chamber 30 may be such that steps 33 d form a nozzle39 to channel gas 1 from one-way valve 40 to passageway 37 of vacuumchamber 30. In an exemplary embodiment, nozzle 39 may increase thevelocity of the gas 1 traveling out of container 7 so as to more quicklyevacuate the container 7 during the expansion of vacuum chamber 30. Inanother exemplary embodiment, nozzle 39 may be small in volume so as tocreate a pressure gradient from one side of passageway 37 to anotherside, thereby facilitating greater flux of gas 1 from the side closestto container 7 to the other side within vacuum chamber 30. In anotherembodiment, the vertical displacement caused by an exemplary nozzle 39between surface of storage container 7 and passageway 37 may enable playbetween passageway 37, valve 40, and the surface of container 7 foundbetween junction points 36 of vacuum chamber 30. Accordingly, anexemplary nozzle 39 may prevent obstruction to gas flow from thecontainer 7 to vacuum chamber 30.

As illustrated by FIG. 13, gas 1 obtained from a storage container 7 andlocated in vacuum chamber 30 may be expelled by application of forces Pson one or more portions of upper surface section 33 a so as to causedeflection in at least an intermediary section, such as middle surfacesection 33 b. An exemplary intermediary section may contain sides thatform an acute angle with respect to one another or otherwise join at acommon vertex pointed either inwardly or outwardly from the center ofvacuum chamber 30. An exemplary intermediary section may be illustratedas middle section 33 b, but other such sections consistent with theabove may also be utilized as well. Additionally, forces Ps may causedeflection to a lower surface section 33 c or a combination of a lowersurface section and an intermediary section, such as middle surfacesection 33 b. While forces Ps may be illustrated as two separate forces,one force Ps may be applied to the upper surface section 33 a. Onceapplied, gas 1 may travel via one or more exit paths 2 through the hole31 in the pocket 38 of upper chamber section 33 a. An exemplary exitstream 3 may flow from valve 50 atop pocket 38. In another embodiment,an exemplary exit stream 3 may flow from valve 50 using the geometriesof recesses/arches 35 just before valve 50. While the illustrativeoperation of an exemplary vacuum chamber 30 may be shown in FIG. 13, theoperative steps and sequence of activities illustrated are not in anyrequired order and may take place in any manner needed to remove a gasfrom an exemplary container. In an exemplary operation of an exemplaryvacuum chamber 30, the exemplary vacuum chamber 30 may be placed on afood storage containment unit, e.g., a bag with a one-way flow valve ora plastic container with a one-way flow valve, and by repeatedapplication of pressure to the chamber 30, evacuate air from the unitcreating a vacuum therein. Such an application of the exemplary vacuumchamber 30 may be to prevent freezer burn or extend the life ofperishable goods. Yet another further example for use of an exemplaryvacuum chamber 30 is to maintain biologics such as tissue samples andpathology specimens. In still another embodiment, an exemplary vacuumchamber 30 may be used to encompass a valve on a wound dressing and beused to evacuate air from spaces beneath the dressing by repeatapplication of forces to the surface of the vacuum chamber 30. Accordingto this exemplary embodiment, a vacuum chamber 30 may be utilized to aidin the healing of chronic or deep wounds to mammals and other animals.

Many further variations and modifications will suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art upon making reference to the above disclosureand foregoing illustrative embodiments, which contain parts that areinterchangeable and are given by way of example only, and are notintended to limit the scope and spirit of the invention describedherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: an upper section having aunidirectional flow valve disposed therein; a lower section having atleast one surface configured for adhering to a container comprising acontainer unidirectional flow valve, the lower section also having apassageway through its thickness shaped to circumscribe the containerunidirectional flow valve; and a middle section comprised of a pluralityof walls, of which two of the plurality are joined at a substantiallyacute angle, the middle section coupling the upper section to the lowersection to form a cavity between the unidirectional flow valve and thepassageway.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity issubstantially hexagonal in cross-section.
 3. The device of claim 1,wherein the cross section of the middle section is less than the crosssection of one of the lower section and the upper section.
 4. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the lower section has at least one elevated surfaceproximal to the passageway and distal to the middle section.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface on the lower sectionis equally distributed about the passageway.
 6. The device of claim 1,wherein the at least one surface on the lower section is equallydistributed about the lower section.
 7. The device of claim 1, whereinthe unidirectional flow valve is a laminate-type valve.
 8. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the upper section has a channel connecting the cavityto the unidirectional flow valve.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein themiddle section further includes walls that are joined together atsubstantially non-acute angles.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein thematerial making up the upper, middle, and lower sections is the same.11. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper, middle,and lower sections is made of an elastomer.
 12. A gas evacuation system,comprising: a chamber comprising at least one portion with asubstantially hexagonal profile, the chamber having only one aunidirectional flow valve, a passage through the at least one portion,and at least one elastically resilient fold coupling the unidirectionalflow valve to the passageway; and a storage container with aunidirectional flow valve disposed about its surface, wherein thechamber passageway is configured to couple about the unidirectional flowvalve on the surface of the storage container so as to substantiallyform a vacuum seal about the storage container unidirectional flowvalve.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said elastically resilientfold is made out of an elastomer.
 14. The system of claim 12, whereinsaid storage container is a storage bag.
 15. The system of claim 12,wherein said storage container stores substantially solid food.
 16. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the unidirectional flow valve is disposedover the passageway so that it is aligned with the unidirectional flowvalve of the storage container.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein thechamber is substantially rectangular as viewed when facing thepassageway.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the chamber adheres tothe storage container via an adhesive.
 19. The system of claim 12,further comprising a pocket coupling the unidirectional flow valve tothe elastically resilient fold.
 20. The system of claim 12, wherein atleast one of the at least one elastically resilient folds is at an acuteangle.